Chapter 11: Chapter 11: The Curtain is About to Rise
Three years, long enough to feel significant, yet short enough to pass in the blink of an eye.
In the secret colony of Celestial Being, Celestial Palace City, Yang Hui led everyone to complete all preparations just one week before the official execution of the plan.
First came the enhancement modifications of the various mobile suits.
The first step was general enhancements; all Gundams were equipped with brand new GN Drives, reinforced skeletal armor at the joints, and the cockpits were changed to all-around spherical designs. Each was outfitted with two Beam Sabers and a GN Field Generator, capable of generating a Particle Shield made of GN Particles for a short time in emergencies, though it consumed a lot of energy and could not be used regularly.
Gundam Exia was transformed from its original GN Sword + GN Handgun combination into a composite weapon that integrated the GN Shield, GN Handgun, and GN Sword into one, now dual-wielded. The originally planned additional weapons, GN Long Sword and GN Short Sword, were replaced with six GN Throwing Short Swords, with cables made of E-Carbon attached to the ends of the sword handles for retrieval.
The biggest change for Gundam Dynames was in the cockpit; it was not only changed to an all-around cockpit but also removed the original sniper targeting system, making it simpler and eliminating the need for Lockon to release the control stick for Haro to operate the mobile suit during sniping. The external armaments saw little change, but the external GN Shield was removed, and a new Camouflage Film Generator was added, allowing Gundam Dynames to conceal itself in battle, becoming a true shadow of death.
Gundam Cherudim, Lyle's Gundam Cherudim, no longer equipped with the GN Sniper Rifle II, instead carried two GN Rifles, which could connect to form a long-range GN Rifle (referencing the Strike Freedom). It added an external GN Shield, with two GN Heavy Handguns mounted inside the GN Shield, serving as the protector of Gundam Dynames during missions.
The entire structure of Gundam Kyrios was adjusted, reducing unnecessary idle space, making the overall feel of the mobile suit more compact. Two GN Cannons were mounted on its back, and the composite weapon of GN Shield + GN Thermal Sword was replaced with GN Composite Gun-Shield Equipment, now dual-wielded. The legs were equipped with a triple GN Missile Launcher, and the rear had a universal interface for attaching GN Missile Containers, Auxiliary Thrusters, and other external packs.
Gundam Virtue, based on the new E-Carbon armor, replaced the high-power GN Bazooka with two GN Cannons, which could combine to form a high-power GN Bazooka (referencing Wing Zero). The GN Cannons on both shoulders were replaced with two GN Vulcans to guard against high-mobility units in close combat, and two foldable low-power GN Cannons were mounted at the waist, making it a moving heavy firepower fortress.
Finally, there was Yang Hui's Gundam Rasiel.
Given Yang Hui's combat style and piloting skills, the new Gundam Rasiel was not equipped with a GN Shield and also canceled the classic fighter settings, changing from a single GN Drive to a dual-engine setup. Although Yang Hui did not intend to be a pioneer, the power of dual engines operating in sync was still immense. Despite some unresolved technical issues, only with two GN Drives could Gundam Rasiel allow Yang Hui to engage in prolonged combat during large-scale battles.
In terms of armament, it wielded dual GN Submachine Guns, with thirty-two GN-Bits spread behind like wings. Sixteen gun-type GN-Bits were loaded within sixteen shield-type GN-Bits, and besides a GN Beam Saber hidden in each wrist, two GN Solid Swords were equipped at the waist as a trump card against GN Fields in the future.
It seemed incredibly powerful, capable of taking on the three major nations.
But this was just a stripped-down version; due to time constraints and Aeolia's opposition, Yang Hui might become even more deranged.
"The first phase of the plan is to concentrate the world's contradictions on ourselves rather than directly annihilating them!"
He said this.
However, even with such a configuration, Yang Hui still worried that the three major nations would turn the tables after acquiring Quasi-GN Drives. He was well aware of the performance of the designs he created, Into the Array and Beiwei, once equipped with simulated GN Drives.
So the enhancements for the Gundams ended there, and Yang Hui could only focus on the Ptolemaios.
"Who the hell said transport ships don't need armament? Are they filled with crap?" Yang Hui scolded when he saw Ptolemaios.
GN Particles can interfere with all radar signals, and transport ships won't be detected... what nonsense! Yang Hui was almost so furious he wanted to slap the PAD in the face of the person who said that.
A warship without armament? What difference does it have from a giant coffin?
Not detected? Nonsense! Just the methods Yang Hui knew to find Ptolemaios were more than one!
Once, Sergei's classic tactic for exploring hidden enemies in space was to scatter numerous small communicators across a wide area. If any small communicator lost contact, it indicated that someone was there, right?
Subsequently, Yang Hui collaborated with Ian and Linda to make significant modifications to Ptolemaios, adjusting the overall structure, isolating the navigation bridge from the secondary combat bridge (referencing the Minerva), removing the detachable hangar, and replacing it with a large internal hangar. Three launchers ensured that Gundams could be launched from the hangar in the shortest time possible. In terms of armament, there were six large GN Cannons, ten small GN Cannons, eight flat GN Cannons, and countless GN rapid-fire control modules, GN Torpedoes, and GN Missile launch ports.
At the same time, it was equipped with a large GN field generator, an Optical Camouflage System, and an unsealed Trans-Am System, serving as a last resort for emergencies.
The entire ship was 359 meters long, more than double the original 154 meters, and with a large amount of armament, Aeolia questioned Yang Hui: "Are you sure this is a transport ship and not a cruiser?"
Yang Hui replied, "Better safe than sorry; if necessary, we can always scale back."
Not wanting to die, Yang Hui could only arm himself to the teeth, and as long as he could decide the upper limit, he wouldn't set a lower limit.
After obtaining this data, even Sumeragi felt speechless. With Yang Hui's preparations, it was clear he was not just planning a military intervention; he was declaring war on the three major nations.
This forced her to overturn all her plans, reassess the power dynamics between the enemy and themselves, and determine where to ease up and by how much.
After three days and nights of busy work, Sumeragi finally revised the plans and dragged Yang Hui into a room to impose "harsh" sanctions on him.
With the equipment discussion concluded, it was time to focus on the piloting skills of the Gundam pilots. Under Yang Hui's relentless training, the piloting skills of the five Gundam pilots improved significantly, ensuring that there would be no repeat of Gundam Exia almost being stripped of its fragments or having its head pulled off by Iron Man.
Perhaps it was due to their shared hardships, but the five of them had developed a noticeable level of camaraderie, preventing any lack of coordination or even sabotaging each other during battles.
To prevent any disputes among the Gundam pilots, Yang Hui proactively revealed each of their identities. After all, on the battlefield, they were the closest of comrades; while they shouldn't be expected to shield each other from harm, they absolutely could not stab each other in the back.
Initially, the Dylandy Brothers found it hard to accept Setsuna's identity, given that their parents and sister had died at the hands of the terrorist organization Setsuna once served. However, upon learning that Setsuna had also been brainwashed and even killed his own parents, they eventually forgave him after understanding his true intentions.
Tieria was initially opposed, as the identity of the Gundam pilots was classified as S-level top secret, and even among themselves, they needed to keep it confidential to prevent one from revealing the others if captured. However, after communicating with VEDA, he acknowledged Yang Hui's approach.
Thus, under Yang Hui's guidance, the pilots became more humanized ahead of schedule, which was a cause for celebration.
Finally, there was Alleluia, whose identity as a Super Soldier also drew sympathy from everyone, though it was just a little. To put it bluntly, wasn't the past of that Gundam pilot a tragedy?
Even Tieria was created as an Artificial Innovator to execute the Celestial Being plan; his life's mission was to carry out the Celestial Being plan, and beyond that, it was "nothing."
Yang Hui speculated that Tieria's eventual awakening as a Pure Innovator was likely due to his acquisition of humanity.
So far, all preparations had been thoroughly made. What lay ahead—success or failure, life or death—remained uncertain, but Yang Hui firmly believed that he could lead everyone to survive.
...
A week later, at the People's Revolutionary Federation's headquarters, Wang Liu Mei received Yang Hui, who had just landed on Earth.
"Long time no see, Myer."
"Hey, long time no see, little girl. You're getting more beautiful."
"Hehe, thank you for the compliment. Please follow me, Myer; the car is ready."
"Okay."
Yang Hui followed Wang Liu Mei into the car. On the way to the temporary base, Yang Hui asked Wang Liu Mei, "Is everything arranged?"
"Everything is set. The two Gundam pilots and their Gundams have safely arrived and are waiting for the mission to begin. Your mobile suit has also been received; it's in the secret hangar beneath the temporary residence."
"Is it safe?"
"Absolutely. It's a private island I purchased, and everyone on the island is my trusted confidant."
"Shh~ You're quite wealthy."
"You're overpraising me. If you want, all of this can be yours."
"Thanks, but no thanks."
"Hehehe, Myer is still so heartless. Can't you see I'm being obvious?"
As they spoke, Wang Liu Mei leaned against Yang Hui, wrapping herself around him tighter.
"Ahem, are you planning to let me in?" Yang Hui quickly pushed Wang Liu Mei away and said.
"Myer means, as long as I want, I can?"
"I don't! I didn't! Don't say that!"
"Hehehe, Myer looks so cute right now."
"I... you..." Yang Hui was quite angry with Wang Liu Mei, but he couldn't bring himself to retaliate, only feeling helplessly furious.
This girl was indeed getting more beautiful and bolder. Teasing a normal man nearing twenty like this was practically inciting a crime!
This was not good; Namu (without Gatling) Amitabha.
Crossing mountains and oceans, Yang Hui arrived at Wang Liu Mei's private island, making his way to the underground hangar. Standing before his Gundam Rasiel, a sense of pride welled up inside him.
"In my past life, I was just a homebody, and now I'm a Gundam pilot."
"Myer, Miss Sumeragi has sent word that the Celestial Being plan is scheduled to officially launch tomorrow at 0900 hours," Wang Liu Mei said.
"Okay, notify the audience; they can wait in the audience seats for the show to start."
(End of Chapter)